Toy train controller



April 13, 1943,

J. L. BoNANNo 2,316,551

TOY TRAIN CONTROLLER Filed May 7,' 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Einw INVENTORJau/w L 90A/mwa ATTORNEY April 13, 1943. J. l.. BoNANNo I TOY TRAINCONTROLLER Filed .May 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 INVENToR Jost/w Z.a/wM/A/o BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETOY TRAIN CONTROLLER Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,287

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to toy train controllers, and is moreparticularly directed to toy train controllers each made in the form ofa combined transformer and controller for the track circuit of a toyrailroad.

The present invention contemplates a device embodying both thetransformer and controller for the track circuit of toy railroads,wherein one is able to provide the track circuit with variable voltageover a predetermined range of voltages for ordinary train operation andto provide the track circuit with alternating current on which issuperposed a small direct current potential for purposes of controllingthe operation of devices energized from the track circuit such as awhistle.

According to the present invention the device is embodied in atransformer having a main secondary coil adapted to supply potential forordinary train operation and a supplemental secondary coil connected tothe rst in such a Way as to boost the output voltage at the terminals ofthe two coils, and this supplemental coil is connected with thehalf-wave rectifier and resistance which may be inserted into thecircuit in a predetermined sequence without opening the circuit so thatthe direct current component may be furnished as well as a boostedvoltage.

According to the present invention the switching arrangement ispreferably such that the halfwave rectier is momentarily introduced intothe circuit to be in series with the two coils and the load so that agreater direct current component is momentarily delivered to the circuitthan subsequently flows when the rectifier has been placed in parallelwith the resistance.

In the preferred arrangement the resistance is such that the R. M. S.voltage delivered to the track circuit when the transformer isoperatingr at its rated output is substantially the same, irrespectiveof whether` pure alternating current is supplied the track circuit oralternatingr current with the direct current component added. In thisway the speed of the train and brightness of the lights are not sensiblyaffected by the introduction of the supplemental coilinto the circuit.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a modified formof circuit and switching arrangement according to which the rectifiermay be inserted into the circuit without increase in voltage, and theincreased voltage may be applied to the circuit through a resistor afterthe rectier has been brought into the circuit and without opening therectifier circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combinedtransformer and controller for these purposes having a -bi-metalliccircuit breaker in series with the load so as to protect the coils ofthe transformer against overloading, and this bi-metallic circuitbreaker is employed as the movable contact of a push button switchadapted to open the power supply circuit to the track, whereby thelocomotive may be started, stopped and reversed.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the descriptionproceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one of the many embodiments in which the invention may takeform, together with modifications of certain parts, it being understoodthat the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limitingthe same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a toy transformer for supplyingcurrent to a single track circuit;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the clamp plate and switch taken onthe arrow 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 withparts broken away;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating one form of circuitconnection;

Figure 7 is a slight modification of the Wiring diagram of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating a slight modification ofconstruction; and

Figure 9 illustrates a further modified wiring diagram.

In the wiring diagram of Figure 6 the primary of a transformer isindicated at I0. The main secondary coil is indicated at II and asupplemental secondary coil at I2. One end of the secondary coil II isconnected by a lead I3 with an output terminal or binding post I4 andwhere an intermediate voltage is desired a tap is brought out, asindicated at I5, and connected to a bonding post I6. A portion I'I ofthe secondary coil II is exposed and adapted to cooperate with a movablecontact I8 so that variable voltages may be taken oli the secondary coilII. The movable arm I8 is connected through a loi-metallic,thermostatically operated circuit breaker I9 and Wire 20 to contact 2|.The contact 2| is normally engaged by a movable switch contact 22 havingspring tips, indicated at 23, 24, 25 and 25, the latter bearing on alarge fixed contact or button 21 connected by wire 28 with an outputterminal 29.

One end of the supplemental secondary coil l2 is connected with thecontact 2 I, while the other end is connected to contacts and 3| throughhalf-wave rectifier 32 and resistor 33. The contact 36 is a wide Contactand it is adapted to be engaged by the tip 24 of the movable switchVcontact 22 before the tip 23 leaves the contact 2|, so that therectifier 32 may be brought into the circuit without opening thecircuit. The upper spring tip 25 of the contact 22 engages the contact21 before the tip 26 leaves it 'and then the tip 25 on further movementis brought against the contact 3| so that the resistor is brought intocircuit. The structural arrangement of the parts just described is shownin Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and will be described in detail later.

The transformer may be connected to a track having the usual wheelbearing rails and third rail 36. Current may be collected olf theserails by the usual contact 31 and truck 38. The train load may include alocomotive having a motor 39, a motor reverser lill, a lamp load 4|, anda relay coil 52 adapted to close the circuit at 43 through a whistlemotor 44.

When the connections are made, as indicated in Figure 6, the output ofthe coil may be vsupplied to the track circuit under the control of themovable arm i8 and the circuit protected by the circuit breaker |S. Whenit is desired to operate the whistle the movable contact'22 is shifteddownwardly. This shunts the coil l2 through the half-wave rectifier andthen brings the half-wave rectier into series with the track circuit.There will be a momentary reduction 'of alternating current voltage inthe track circuit and a substantial direct current component. As soon asthe contact is moved down to bring the tip 26 against the contact 3|,the rectifier will be shunted by the resistance 33 so that the halfwaveinterfered with by the rectifier can pass through to the track circuit,

With Ithe connections as shown the supplemental coil l2 boosts theavailable voltage an amount depending upon the number of turns in thecoil. The useful voltage applied to the track circuit is, however,reduced by the combined resistance of 33 in parallel with rectifier 32,and where a xed resistance is employed xedly connected in circuit thisresistance is preferably such that the track circuit Voltage issubstantially the same when the load is such as to take the rated outputof the transformer. A variable resistance may be substituted, ifdesired. The characteristics of each type of dry rectifier commerciallyavailable is relatively nxed therefore the voltage compensation is mostreadily varied by means o'f the resistor.

In the structure shown in Figures 1 'to 5, lthe device is Yshown ashaving a sheet metal, boxlike housing i5 of rectangular configurationclosed by a cover 46. The transformer core '41, together with theprimary and secondary windings, are formed into a unit with suitableleads and connections for wires. The core is held in place in thehousing by two clamp platesI 48 and 49. These clamp plates are notched,as indicated at 5i?, to t the core and are of the proper size and shapeto slide down along the corners of the case or housing 45.

28 and a soldering lug 55 connected by a wire 51 Awith the resistor 33.The insulating plate 5| also car-ries a. bracket arm 58 which supportsthe rectifier 32 and the resistor 33. The rectier is connected to thecontact 3G by a strap 59. The bracketv arm 53 is connected by a wire 60with f the other end of the con s2.

A vertically reciprocable insulating plunger 6| is guided on a pin 62carried by the clamp plate 8 and a pin 63 carried by the insulatingplate 5Fl. The plunger is urged upwardly by a spring 64 and carries themovable contact member 22 with its spring tips positioned properlyrelative to the nxed contacts. This plunger extends out through thecover of the transformer housing so that it can be convenientlymanipulated,

rIhe cover 46 supports va knob 65 connected with the swingable contactarm I8 so that the output voltage of the trans-former may be readilycontrolled. This arm is connected by a wire ES with the circuit breakerI9 above referred to. This circuit breaker is adapted to vflex onoverload to open the circuit, and it is here shown as being operable by'a button IV61 projecting out through the top of the transformer so thatwhen this button is depressed the circuit may be opened so as to start,stop and reverse the locomotive.

Figure '7 shows a modification of the transformer according to which aportion of the secondary coil i2 is exposed and cooperable with acontact 38 vconnected to the resistor 33. This makes it possible tosecure a variable supplemental-voltage with a fixed resistance.

in the modification shown in Figure 8 the lead 23 is permanentlyconnected with the movable contact 22a and the fixed Contact 21 andsoldering lug 55 omitted.

While in the illustrated embodiment of the transformer here shown theycontroller is designed for -a single track circuit, it is obvious thatthe invention may be applied to transformers having a plurality o'fmovable contacts cooperable with the secondary for supplying a variablevoltage to a plurality of independent track circuits.

In 'the `arrangement shown in Figure '9 the ma-in secondary coil isshown at 1'0 and the supplemental coil at 1|. These coils may becontinuous and 'a tap 12 is brought -o'ut and Vconnected to a 'contact13 'and rectifier 14, the latter being connected with a contactY 15.'The other end of the coil 1| is here shown as lbeing connected througha movable contact 16 Vwith Va resistor 11. YThe resistor is Vconnectedto a xed contact 18. Another nxed contact 19 above the contact 18 isconnected to an voutput terminal '80. The principal voltage control isobtained by movable `arm 8| connected to an output terminal 82.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 9 the structure may be the same 'asvthat above shown and described with the wiring connections a1- tered.Here the manipulation of the movable switch 22 will first introduce adirect current component without increase of available voltage, and willthen bring about an increase in the voltage and at the 'same timemaintain a Adirect current component. The values of this will dependupon the constant employed. Under some .circumstances this arrangementmay be substituted for that shown in Figure 6. It, however, is not asflexible in operation as it does not make it possible to havevariablevoltage taps all controllable from a single movable arm. x

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions within the scope of the claims and I wish it to beunderstood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms.Various modifications 'and changes being possible, I do not otherwiselimit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combined transformer and controller for the track circuit of atoy railroad, a secondary winding adapted to provide a maximumalternating current voltage across its ends, an output terminal, a tapintermediate the ends for providing a lesser voltage between the tap andsaid output terminal and connected to a fixed contact, a second outputterminal, a movable switch contact normally connecting said fixedcontact and second terminal, a half-wave rectifier having one endconnected to the secondary and the other end to a fixed contact normallyout of engagement with the movable contact but engageable thereby beforethe movable contact leaves the first fixed contact so that a directcurrent component may be introduced into the circuit supplied from saidterminals, and a resistance connected to the end or the winding remotefrom the first terminal and to another fixed contact, the last-mentionedfixed contact being engageable by the movable contact after it leavesthe first contact and while it is in engagement with the rectifierconnected contact so that the maximum voltage is impressed on thecircuit including the resistance.

2. The combination of claim l, wherein the rectifier and resistance havea common connection with the coil so that when the rectifier isintroduced into the circuit the overall voltage available is increased.

3. The combination of claim l, wherein the rectifier is connected to thetap and resistance to the end of the coil whereby the increased voltageis available only with both rectifier and resistance in circuit.

4. A controller for toy railroad track circuits comprising twotransformer coils, one adapted to provide a predetermined trainoperating voltage, the other adapted to provide additional voltage andconnected at one end with the first coil, a rectifier and a resistanceeach connected to the other end of the second coil, and switch means forshunting the second coil by the rectifier, then connecting the rectifierin series with both coils and the load, and then shunting the rectifierby the resistance.

5. A controller such as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alternatingcurrent voltage to a load drawing a Variable wattage from thetransformer with the switching means in either extreme position issubstantially constant.

6. In a combined transformer and controller for the track circuit of atoy railroad, a main secondary coil having one end permanently connectedto an output terminal and an exposed Winding at the other end, a movablecontact connected to another output terminal and cooperable with theexposed Winding to vary the output voltage, a supplemental voltageboosting coil connected to the movable contact, a. half-wave rectifierand a resistance each connected to the other end of the boosting coil,and switch means for connecting the resistance and rectifier in parallelwith one another and in series with both coils whereby the voltage addedto the circuit is uniformly increased irrespective of the setting of themovable contact on the exposed winding.

'7. A combined transformer and controller for the track circuit of a toyrailroad comprising, a transformer with primary coil, a main secondarycoil and a supplemental secondary coil and a core, a portion of the maincoil being exposed, its other end being connected with an outputterminal, an enclosing housing having a cover carrying a swingablecontact cooperative with the exposed portion and connected permanentlywith the supplemental coil and to a fixed contact, a second fixedcontact below the rst and connected to the other end of the supplementalcoil through a half-wave rectier, an additional xed contact connectedthrough a resistance to said other end of the supplemental secondarycoil, a vertically reciprocable switch operator projecting through thecover and carrying a switch contact continuously connected to a secondoutput terminal and movable from a position where it connects the uppertwo contacts together to a position where it connects the two lattermentioned contacts, and a spring biasing the switch operator upwardly.

8. In a combined transformer and controller for the track circuit or" atoy railroad, a main secondary coil having one end connected to anoutput terminal, a supplemental secondary coil having one end connectedto a xed switch contact which is connected to the other end of the mainsecondary coil, the other end of the supplemental coil being connectedto two other fixed contacts through a half-wave rectifier and aresistance respectively, a movable switch member continuously connectedwith a second output terminal and shiftable from a position to connectthe rst contact to the second terminal so that the output of the maincoil only is supplied the terminals, to a position where the firstcontact is disconnected and the second and third contacts are connectedtogether so that the outputs of both coils and of the rectifier, lessresistance losses, are supplied the terminals.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the movable switch member engagesthe rectifier connected contact before it is disengaged from the firstcontact or is connected to the resistance connected contact so that therectifier is in series with the track circuit before the rectifier isshunted by the resistance whereby the initial direct current voltage ishigher than the final direct current voltage.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the switch member is biasedtoward the first mentioned position.

11. In combination, an upwardly opening boxlike housing, a transformercore carrying a primary coil, a main secondary coil having an exposedwinding at the top and its opposite end connected to a binding post, acover carrying a movable contact bearing on the exposed winding, asupplemental secondary coil, a pair of core clamping plates slidablyreceived in the housing and extending below the core to space it abovethe bottom of the housing, a bracket arm insulatedly carried by one ofthe plates below the core and carrying a rectifier and a resistor eachconnected with the arm, a wire connecting the arm with the supplementalcoil, an insulating contact carrier secured to the said plate and havinga contact connected to the cover carried movable contact and to theother end of the supplemental coil, a contact connected to the resistor,a contact connected to the rectier, a second binding post, a plungercarried by said clamping plate and projecting through the cover, and abridging contact carried by the plunger continuously connected to thesecond binding post and movable over said fixed contacts.

l2. Means for controlling the current supply to a toy railroad trackcircuit having a load, part of which is responsive to either alternatingcurrent alone or to alternating current with superposed direct current,and part of which i's re- `sponsive only to the alternating current withsuperposed direct current, comprising a transformer secondary normallyconnected to the track circuit to supply a predetermined alternatingcurrent voltage, a supplemental transformer secondary normally connectedto one side of the first secondary and at the other side to a rectifierand to a resistor in parallel with the rectifier, the latter beingotherwise disconnected from the load, and switching means for placingboth secondaries in series with the rectifier and load to supply adirect current component to the load and for thereafter shunting therectier by the resistance.

13. Means such as claimed in claim 12, wherein the value of theresistance is such that the drop in voltage across it at or near fullload of the transformer is substantially equal `to the voltage developedin the supplemental coil.

JOSEPH L. BONANNO.

